IN various
writings on occult subjects, it has been stated that unselfishness is a sine
qua non for success in occultism. Or a more correct form of putting it, would
be that the development of an unselfish feeling is in itself the primary
training which brings with it "knowledge which is power" as a
necessary accessory. It is not, therefore, "knowledge," as ordinarily
understood, that the occultist works for, but it comes to him as a matter of
course, in consequence of his having removed the veil, which screens true
knowledge from his view. The basis of knowledge exists everywhere, since the
phenomenal world furnishes or rather abounds with facts, the causes of which
have to be discovered. We see only the effects in the phenomenal world, for
each cause in that world is itself the effect of some other cause, and so on;
and, therefore, true knowledge consists in getting at the root of all
phenomena, and thus arriving at a correct understanding of the primal cause,
the "rootless root," which is not an effect in its turn.

To perceive
anything correctly, one can use only those senses or instruments which
correspond to the nature of that object. Hence, to comprehend the noumenal, a
noumenal sense is a pre-requisite; while the transient phenomena can be
perceived by senses corresponding to the nature of those phenomena. Occult
Philosophy teaches us that the seventh principle is the only eternal Reality,
while the rest, belonging as they do to the "world of forms" which
are non-permanent, are illusive in the sense that they are transient. To these
is limited the phenomenal world which can be taken cognisance of by the senses
corresponding to the nature of those six principles. It will thus be clear that
it is only the seventh sense, which pertains to the noumenal world,
that can comprehend the Abstract Reality underlying all phenomena. As
this seventh principle is all-pervading, it exists potentially in all of us;
and he, who would arrive at true knowledge, has to develop that sense in him,
or rather he must remove those veils which obscure its manifestation. All sense
of personality is limited only to these lower six principles, for the former
relates only to the "world of forms." Consequently, true
"knowledge" can be obtained only by tearing away all the curtains of
Maya raised by a sense of personality before the impersonal Atma.

It is only in
that personality that is centered selfishness, or rather the latter creates the
former and vice versa, since they mutually act and react upon each other. For,
selfishness is that feeling which seeks after the aggrandisement of one's own
egotistic personality to the exclusion of others. If, therefore, selfishness
limits one to narrow personalities, absolute knowledge is impossible so long as
selfishness is not got rid of. So long, however, as we are in this world of
phenomena, we cannot be entirely rid of a sense of personality, however exalted
that feeling may be in the sense that no feeling of personal aggrandisement or
ambition remains. We are, by our constitution and state of evolution, placed in
the "World of Relativity," but as we find that impersonality and
non-duality is the ultimate end of cosmic evolution, we have to endeavor to
work along with Nature, and not place ourselves in opposition to its inherent
impulse which must ultimately assert itself. To oppose
it, must necessitate suffering, since a weaker force, in its egotism, tries to
array itself against the universal law.

All that the
occultist does, is to hasten this process, by allowing his Will to act in
unison with the Cosmic Will or the Demiurgic Mind, which can be done by
successfully checking the vain attempt of personality to assert itself in
opposition to the former. And since the MAHATMA is but an advanced occultist,
who has so far controlled his lower "self" as to hold it more or less
in complete subjection to the Cosmic impulse, it is in the nature of things impossible
for him to act in any other but an unselfish manner. No sooner does he allow
the "personal self" to assert itself, than he ceases to be a MAHATMA.
Those, therefore, who being still entangled in the web of the delusive sense of
personality charge the MAHATMAS with "selfishness" in withholding
"knowledge"--do not consider what they are talking about. The Law of
Cosmic evolution is ever operating to achieve its purpose of ultimate unity and
to carry the phenomenal into the noumenal plane, and the MAHATMAS, being en
rapport with it, are assisting that purpose. They therefore know best what
knowledge is best for mankind at a particular stage of its evolution, and none
else is competent to judge of that matter, since they alone have got to the
basic knowledge which can determine the right course and exercise proper
discrimination.

For us who are
yet struggling in the mire of the illusive senses to dictate what knowledge
MAHATMAS shall impart to us and how they shall act, is like a street-boy
presuming to teach science to Prof. Huxley or politics to Mr. Gladstone. For,
it will be evident that, as soon as the least feeling of selfishness tries to
assert itself, the vision of the spiritual sense, which is the only perception
of the MAHATMA, becomes clouded and he loses the "power" which
abstract "knowledge" alone can confer. Hence, the vigilant watch of
the "Will" we have constantly to exercise to prevent our lower nature
from coming up to the surface, which it does in our present undeveloped state;
and thus extreme activity and not passivity is the essential condition with
which the student has to commence. First his activity is directed to check the
opposing influence of the "lower self"; and, when that is conquered,
his untrammelled Will centered in his higher (real) "self," continues
to work most efficaciously and actively in unison with the cosmic ideation in
the "Divine Mind."